Death Valley, California, is currently experiencing some of the most extreme temperatures ever recorded on Earth. According to the National Weather Service, the temperature in Death Valley reached a scorching 126 degrees Fahrenheit today, making it the hottest place in the contiguous United States. This comes as part of a broader heat wave affecting millions across the South and Southwest regions of the country.
The heat wave shows no signs of abating, with the National Weather Service predicting that high temperatures will persist into next week. More than 70 million people from California to South Florida are under heat alerts, with temperatures expected to remain in the triple digits across the Southwest. The Gulf Coast and South Florida will also experience high humidity, causing heat index values to soar up to 115 degrees in some areas. Overnight temperatures are expected to stay unusually warm, providing little relief from the oppressive heat.
Phoenix, Arizona, is on the verge of breaking its record for consecutive days with temperatures at or above 110 degrees Fahrenheit. The city has already tied the record set in 1974 and is expected to surpass it tomorrow. Tucson, Arizona, has also set a new record for the number of days in July with temperatures at or above 110 degrees, breaking a record that stood since 1989.
The extreme heat is not limited to the United States. The World Meteorological Organization has warned that a heat wave affecting the Mediterranean is expected to intensify, potentially setting new national records in parts of the Northern Hemisphere. Countries like Greece and Turkey are already experiencing record-breaking temperatures, and the heat wave is likely to continue into August.
In Europe, Italy is facing potentially record-breaking temperatures, with forecasts predicting highs of up to 118.4 degrees Fahrenheit on the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. The European Space Agency has warned that these could be the hottest temperatures ever recorded in Europe. Italy has issued hot weather red alerts for 16 cities, with meteorologists warning of record highs across southern Europe in the coming days.
China is also grappling with extreme heat. The temperature in Sanbao, a township in the region of Xinjiang, reached almost 126 degrees Fahrenheit, setting a national record. This extreme heat is affecting more than 900 million people in China, straining the power supply and increasing the number of heat-related deaths.
The relentless heat is causing significant disruptions. In Los Angeles, the union representing striking actors, SAG-AFTRA, cut short its planned picket due to the extreme heat. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has warned that power demand will likely hit record highs this week as residents crank up their air conditioners to escape the heat.
The extreme temperatures are also contributing to dangerous wildfire conditions. In southwest Oregon, the Flat Fire has grown rapidly, torching trees and spreading across both sides of the Illinois River. The fire has already spread to an estimated 4,000 acres, and the weather service has issued a red flag warning for the area.
The extreme heat is not just a current phenomenon but a harbinger of what could become more common in the future. Researchers warn that if global temperatures continue to rise, many parts of the world could experience potentially lethal temperatures on a routine basis. By 2100, temperatures could reach as high as 56 degrees Celsius (132.8 degrees Fahrenheit) in some regions, exposing hundreds of millions of people to extreme heat.
Death Valley, already known as the hottest place on Earth, could face even more extreme temperatures. The world record highest air temperature of 134 degrees Fahrenheit was recorded at Furnace Creek in Death Valley on July 10, 1913. Summer temperatures in Death Valley often top 120 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade, with overnight lows dipping into the 90s. Average rainfall is less than 2 inches, making it one of the driest places in North America.
The extreme heat in Death Valley and other parts of the world underscores the urgent need for action on climate change. As temperatures continue to rise, the risks to human health and safety will only increase. The current heat wave serves as a stark reminder of the challenges we face and the importance of taking immediate action to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Source: National Weather Service, World Meteorological Organization, European Space Agency, China Meteorological Administration, Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Reuters, NBC News
